The NASA Northern California Spec Miata field got an injection of horsepower this weekend — not from the cars, but from the drivers. Sonoma Raceway played host to a rare Northern and Southern California crossover event, bringing together some of the fastest Spec Miata racers on the West Coast for a battle that lived up to every expectation.
From the moment the green flag dropped, the racing was pure Spec Miata magic: tight packs, constant drafting, side-by-side corner entries, and positions changing every lap. No lead was safe, no mistake went unpunished, and every inch of Sonoma’s 2.52-mile circuit was contested.
Saturday Racing
Team SJ Motorsports emerged victorious after 12 intense laps, but the margin back to Anthony White was only 5.4 seconds, with Brian Cross, Evan Donnell and Nathaniel Spitz locked into the fight right behind.
The Southern California contingent immediately showed they had come north to do more than sightsee, while the NorCal regulars defended their home turf with equal determination. Every group of cars on track seemed to be engaged in its own race-long battle.
Sunday delivered even more drama in the second contingency-paying race. Past NorCal season champion Will D’Elia claimed the win by the slimmest of margins—just 0.186 seconds ahead of Evan Donnell at the checkered flag. Casey Moyer completed the podium after another fierce nine-lap sprint that had spectators guessing the outcome until the final lap.
The top 10 were covered by barely eight seconds, a statistic that perfectly captures the intensity of the competition.
What made the weekend special wasn’t just the results—it was the depth of talent. Veterans, rising stars, and Teen Mazda Challenge competitors all mixed it up in one of the most competitive Spec Miata fields seen at Sonoma in recent years. Every position mattered, whether drivers were fighting for the win, a podium spot, or simply the right to say their region came out ahead.
By the time the checkered flag flew, Northern and Southern California had delivered exactly what crossover events are supposed to produce: fierce competition, mutual respect, and some of the best grassroots racing in the country.
If this weekend proved anything, it’s that California Spec Miata is stronger than ever—and when NorCal and SoCal come together, nobody can predict who will be standing on the top step when the dust settles.
One state. Two regions. Twenty-plus Miatas. Endless battles. This was California Spec Miata at its finest.
